M6:240 — یا پی تعلیم می‌کرد آن حیل / یا برای حکمتی دور از وجل

Translation: Either he employed those stratagems for teaching, / Or for a wisdom far from fear (wajal). Meaning: This verse explores the dual purpose of employing 'tricks' or stratagems: either as a method for instruction and awakening, or as a path to a wisdom entirely liberated from anxiety and fear.

This verse delves into the profound psychological insights of Rumi, analyzing how humans attempt to evade their own 'choice' (ikhtiyār) and 'existence' (hastī). The phrase 'those stratagems' (ān ḥiyal) can be interpreted in two distinct ways, both aligned with Rumi's teachings:

Firstly, 'stratagems' could refer to the coping mechanisms people employ to escape existential anxieties. Rumi vividly illustrates how "all the world, from its own choice and selfhood, / Flees into its own intoxicated head" (M6:240). To escape self-awareness, people resort to intoxication (wine, distracting music) or to submerging themselves in work (shughl), what we now call being a 'workaholic.' These are the 'stratagems' humans devise to forget the prison of their own existence. Yet, from Rumi's perspective, these are not solutions; they are, in fact, forms of idleness and heedlessness.

Secondly, 'those stratagems' could allude to Rumi's own unique teaching methods and linguistic artistry. As an unparalleled mentor, Rumi utilizes diverse stories, parables, and metaphors to awaken the reader to self-awareness. These 'stratagems' employed by Rumi are not meant to deceive but to 'teach' (taʿlīm) and stir dormant souls. Through these means, he endeavors to liberate individuals from their own 'stratagems' of intoxication and heedlessness. His 'tricks' are tools of enlightenment, not obfuscation of truth.

The second part of the verse, "Or for a wisdom far from fear (wajal)," indicates the ultimate goal of these measures. Wajal here signifies fear, apprehension, and anxiety. Humanity is born with four fundamental anxieties: the fear of death, loneliness, meaninglessness, and the burden of choice and responsibility. Rumi analyzes these apprehensions with a depth that often surpasses contemporary psychoanalysts, offering superior remedies. While Ibn Arabi, for all his grandeur, immersed himself in the 'Five Presences' (ḥaḍarāt-i khams) and spoke of celestial realms, Rumi penetrates the 'dark chamber of the human psyche' (tārīk-khānah-yi rawān-i ādamī) and unveils its hidden corners. Rumi's aim is to guide humanity towards a 'wisdom' (ḥikmat) that is liberated from these anxieties.

How is this wisdom, free from wajal, attained? Not by escaping reality, but by submitting to it. Rumi advises confronting death, accepting loneliness, seeking to discover (rather than merely construct) the meaning of life, and crucially, to mitigate the anxiety of choice, one must "reduce one's own power" (az qudrat-i khwud bi-kāhīd). Simple living (sāda-zīstī) and contentment (qanāʿat)—meaning having fewer options and desiring fewer resources—is a path that unburdens individuals from the heavy responsibilities arising from freedom, thereby alleviating the 'anxiety of freedom and responsibility.' This is the 'wisdom far from wajal' towards which Rumi, through his teaching 'stratagems,' guides humanity.

Key takeaways

• Humans often flee from their own free will and self-awareness towards intoxication and heedlessness.
• Stratagems (ḥiyal) can be either human escape mechanisms (like addiction or busyness) or Rumi's teaching methods for awakening.
• The ultimate goal of Rumi's wisdom is liberation from humanity's four fundamental anxieties: death, loneliness, meaninglessness, and responsibility.
• Rumi is a profound psychologist who penetrates the 'dark chamber of the human psyche' and offers practical remedies.
• Achieving 'wisdom far from fear' involves submitting to reality and reducing one's desires (through contentment and simple living) to lighten the burden of responsibility.